Stop Managing Your Time and Discover Creative Energy
Early in my creative career, I was obsessed with time tables, and I tried to squeeze as many activities as possible into my day. What happened? I was either writing when I was exhausted or I failed to write at all. Not surprisingly, my creative productivity as well as my moods suffered.
However, time management strategies seem more stressful than helpful.
Also, ironically, when I was concerned about managing my time, some days I spent more time creating schedules than actually writing or getting things done.
If this sounds like you, then try focusing less time on schedules and deadlines and more time on enhancing your creative energy.
Time vs. Creative Energy
The problem with focusing on time management is that the hours in a single day are finite. There are only 24 of them.
But creativity is infinite, and when nurtured, it can expand and grow. Energy is like that too. When we care for our bodies, our minds, our emotions, and our spirits, then energy can grow and expand in our lives.
Creativity requires less time and more energy. For instance, you can do a lot creatively in short periods of time if you have the energy to do so.
Combining creativity with energy, then, creates a powerful tool: creative energy.
Creative energy is simply the energy we use to nurture our creativity and art. Unlike time, it’s constantly renewable. The more we use creative energy, the more creative energy we generate in our art and our lives.
Discover Creative Energy
But how can we discover more creative energy? Here are some strategies I use:
Work in short intervals and take short breaks.
Try doing your creative work in short intervals and take breaks on a regular basis. When I have sufficient energy, it amazes me how much I can write in about 30 minutes. And by taking short breaks, I’m able to refuel and be creatively productive again.
During breaks, focus on activities that will fuel your body, your spirit, or your creativity. For instance, try listening to music. Or drink some herbal tea. Or take a short walk. Or engage in some artistic play. By taking breaks that actually renew and refresh you, then you may find more creative energy.
Focus.
Research tells us that multi-tasking is an inefficient and ineffective method for productivity. In fact, it lowers productivity levels. So, don’t multi-task. In other words, stop doing tasks that disrupt your focus from your creative work. Instead, focus on one task at a time and on simply writing or engaging your art and see if you experience more creative energy.
Be mindful of your emotions.
Being mindful of your emotions is a way to stay energized before you become emotionally drained. So, while you’re working, be mindful, or hyper-aware of how you’re feeling in any given moment. Sometimes, when I’m working, I may start to feel anxious or experience other uncomfortable emotions. If this happens to you, then stop and take some time to comfort yourself and care for your emotions by journaling, meditating, or doing some relaxation exercises.
Be creative early in your day.
This suggestion is probably a hard-sell to all of you who feel inspired to write late at night. However, in my experience, I’ve found that I’m more productive and have more energy when I go to bed earlier and wake earlier in order to write. Going to bed even thirty minutes to an hour earlier will get you up and moving that much sooner in your day, which will give you the time you need to be creative.
For you night owls, you may be like me: You like writing in those hours when it’s dark outside and the whole world seems to be sleeping. That’s why I’ve slowly shifted my schedule in order to write during the very early mornings, usually around 3:30-4am. That’s probably too early for most folks, but it means that I’m writing at the beginning of my day rather than the end, and I’m still doing so under the conditions I enjoy.
So, experiment and try shifting your creative time to first thing in the morning. You may just find that you have a lot more energy not only for your creativity, but for the rest of your daily tasks.
Focus on your creative passion.
Too often, artists get caught up in doing what we think we “should” do in order to pursue our careers, rather than focusing on what we have a deep desire to do. So, follow your core desires and do what you want to do creatively, or what you feel passionately about. By doing so, you may just find that you have more creative energy to invest in your art.
The Creativity/Energy Connection
Creativity and energy feed off of one another.
If you’re feeling extremely tired and emotionally spent after working on a creative project, then something is wrong. You may have worked well-past your energy levels or failed to care for your emotions. Or maybe you tried to do too many tasks at once. Or maybe you’re just cranky about doing something that you really don’t feel passionately about.
Regardless, if you feel exhausted after doing creative work, then try a different approach and see if you find more energy.
The most important thing is for you find your creative energy for yourself. So, try experimenting with different methods. Use those that work for you, and ditch the ones that aren’t working.
Finally, if you’re not caring for your basic needs, then there’s little chance that you’ll have the physical energy that you need in order to be creative. So, if you want to experience more creative energy, be sure you’re meeting your basic physical needs.
Let Your Creative Energy Grow
Everyone possesses creative energy. So, discover yours, build on it, enhance it, and let it grow and expand not only in your art but throughout your life.
You may just find you’re more productive creatively. Also, you may find that creative energy gives you the fuel to do what you need to do in your daily life. Finally, you might just experience the creative joy inherent to us all.
How do you enhance your creative energy?
If you’ve enjoyed this article, feel free to share it.
Flickr photo courtesy of Eddi van W.
5 Responses to “Stop Managing Your Time and Discover Creative Energy”
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Excellent post, as always, Ami.
Time management is helpful only if it’s managed properly. People can spend so much time worrying about whether they’re managing their time right that they get nothing done.
Maureen´s last [type] ..Wednesday Wonder- Vivian Maier
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This is a wonderful approach to work and creativity. It’s so important to respect our own rhythms and take care of ourselves so the well doesn’t run dry.
So glad Maureen tweeted this piece, and I’m happy to discover you, Ami.
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In my mind, I’d absolutely LOVE to be able to get up at 4:30 or 5:00 every day for uninterrupted writing time. Unfortunately, my bode controls that process most mornings and I end up slapping the old snooze button until the day job cometh…
The few times I’ve managed though, great things have happened. I wish I understood the mechanics of training my body to do what I want it to, because to feel that same feeling of focused creativity on a daily basis would be Nirvana. (The heavenly mystic thing, not the Seattle grunge thing.)
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My work life is on an hourly schedule. Managing my time well to be on time leaks into my family life. Hurrying like I’m the time keeper for all!
Luckily, my timeliness hasn’t leaked to much into my writing time. I actually don’t have a schedule. I write when I have the energy, when I want to, when I have some chunk of kid-free solitude. And, when I start to write, I seem to really focus. I write better earlier in the day, yet I do enjoy “writing practice” after my kids are in bed.
For me, it’s knowing when to push through a block and when to take a break. Not allowing myself to be distracted, yet knowing when I need to walk away (and come back).
Marci´s last [type] ..Do Opposites Still Attract
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Great article, it was so inspiring, it helped me with my next blog post, coming out on March 29. I linked this article to it. Keep up the good work!
Joshua Lance´s last [type] ..Splat- my next adventure at the Petroglyphs
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